This 2006 Maserati MC12 Strada version was an entrant in the Evolution of the Supercar part 2 class.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
For fans of old cars, the number of events one could attend increases year every year. A new event for 2017 was the City Concours which was held on the Cricket pitch of the Honorable Artillery Company right in heart of the financial district of the City of London, on June 8-9.
The Honorable Artillery Company is the oldest regiment in the British Army and traces its origins back to 1537 when Henry VIII granted a charter to the Fraternity or Guild of Artillery of Longbows, crossbows and hand guns. The regiment has served the British army with distinction to the present day. Armory House, The Company’s current location, was built to replace an earlier 17th century smaller armory. The central portion of the building was completed in 1735 to the design of Thomas Stubbs and cost the princely sum of £1690. The east and west wings were added to the building in 1828. As you will see from the photographs the location is typical of the City of London. Fine Georgian houses mixed in with modern glass office buildings with a cricket pitch slap bang in the middle of it all. The show catalog had very little info within, just the make and model of each car and year of construction. Unfortunately as a result of this my piece will be more of a photo gallery. Nice cars though. Below are 42 of the best, or at least in our opinion!
Ticket costs this year:
Breakfast in the City – £85 + VAT per person
(Full English Breakfast served from 8.30am till 10.00am)
Concours Alfresco Lunch – £180 + VAT per person
(Lunch served from 12.00 till 2.30pm)
Admission Only – £35 inc VAT per person
(From 10.00am)
From the Swinging Sixties class, this 1964 AC Cobra 289.
From the same class, this 1970 Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV.
From the Modern Bespoke class, this rather well-known 2016 Alfa Romeo Disco Volante.
Displayed by Aston Martin specialist Nicholas Mee was this 1956 Aston Martin D2/4 MK11 FHC. Price on application.
Displayed by JD Classics, this Aston Martin DB5 was originally used by Ogle Design to show the Aston Martin factory how the interior of the forthcoming DB6 could look.
A very rare entrant in the Sixties class, an Aston Martin DB5 Radford Shooting Brake. One of only 12 (8 right hand drive, 4 left hand drive) examples were built.
From the Evolution of the Supercar (part 1) class, this 1985 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupe.
Not unsurprisingly this 1967 Aston Martin DB6 Volante MK1 was an entrant in the Swinging Sixties class. BTW, the building in the background is the club house of the Honorable Artillery Company on whose cricket pitch the event was held.
From the Pioneering Spirit class, a 1927 Bentley Weyman Drop Head Coupe (DHC) by Freestone and Webb.
Another Pioneering Spirit class entrant, the Bentley Birkin Blower No 5 which I believe dates from 1931.
Winner of Best in Show and an entrant in the Joy of the Road class was this 1937 Fraser Nash BMW 328.
An unusual but welcome addition to the event was the Collector American Muscle class. This 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 340 six-pack was a particular favorite.
From the same class, 1969 Dodge A12 Super Bee 440 six-pack.
An entrant in the modern Bespoke class was the 1969/2013 Eagle E Type Low Drag Coupe.
Another car we have featured before, an entrant in the Joy of the Road class, this 1952 Ferrari 212 Inter Vignale.
Coming up for auction shortly, this Ferrari 246 GT.
From the Swinging Sixties class this ever so elegant 1960 Ferrari 250GT Pininfarina Coupe.
From the Swinging Sixties class, a 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB/2 Short nose.
Evolution of the Supercar part 1, a 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO.
Two further entrants in the Evolution of the Supercar Part 1 class, 1975 Ferrari 365 Berlinetta Boxer and a 1973 De Tomaso Pantera GT5.
From the Swinging Sixties class, 1969 Ferrari 365GT 2 plus 2.
In the Built for Speed class, a car we have shown before, this Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Comp Series 3.
From the Modern Bespoke class, 2001 Ferrari 550 Zagato.
Done as a special request from the customer as part of the Ferrari customization program, the engine bay of this 458 has been signed by everybody who had a hand in its construction.
Another pair of entrants in the Built for Speed class were this 1950 Fraser Nash Le Mans replica and a 2014 Ferrari 458 Italia GTE.
From the Pioneering Spirit class, a 1907 Itala 40 HP.
Jaguar D Type XKD603, a fine entrant in the Built for Speed class.
There just had to be a Jaguar E Type in the Swinging Sixties class. In this case a 1961 E Type S1 Roadster. I understand this is the 60th example built.
From the Evolution of the Supercar Part two, a 1991 Jaguar XJR-15.
And from the same class a 1992 Jaguar XK220 TWR and a 2010 Bugatti Veyron.
Another Jaguar in the Evolution of the Supercar, this 1956 XKSS.
Not an entry in the built for speed class but in the Evolution of the Supercar class, this 1975 Lancia Stratos.
From the Swinging Sixties (naturally) class, 1965 Lotus Elan S2.
From the Joy of the Open Road class, this 1962 Maserati 3500 Vignale Spyder.
It is unusual to see a Maserati MC12 at a UK concours. This 2007 Corsa version was entered in the Built for Speed class.
You cannot have a concours in the middle of the financial district of London without having a Mini in the Swinging Sixties class, in this case a 1969 Morris Mini Cooper S.
From the evolution of the Supercar part 1, a 1954 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing.
The roadster version shown here dates from 1959 and was displayed by JD Classics.
Two entrants in the Joy of the Road class, a 1970 Shelby Mustang GT350 and a 1953 Jaguar XK120.
The Evolution of the Supercar class had to include a Porsche 911, in this case a 1973 2.7 Carrera RS Touring.
From the Pioneering Spirit class this 1912 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost London to Edinburgh by Hooper.
Recently covered by Graham Gauld, a 2016 David Brown Speedback GT was an entrant in the Modern Bespoke class.
Only in London, England would you see all those spectators in a suit and tie!
Quite!